PAUL NICHOLLS believes he has a "little Hurricane Fly" on his hands after Zarkandar maintained his unbeaten record over timber in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

Nicholls produced the halfbrother to the brilliant Zarkava in top shape for the juvenile championship on the back of only one run over hurdles, and he ran out an impressive two-and-aquarter-length winner from the Irish filly Unaccompanied.

Many thought Zarkandar (13-2) lacked the experience for a race of this nature but expertly guided by Daryl Jacob, the Aga Khan cast-off moved comfortably through the field before jumping to the front at the last.

Nicky Henderson was placed again with Grandouet, while Ruby Walsh flashed home on the winner's stablemate Sam Winner to claim fourth. Nicholls said: "Given the summer to strengthen up, Zarkander really could be anything. I've no doubts he could be a Champion Hurdle horse.

"I was astounded with how he won at Kempton.

"He'd been going well at home but he'd been gelded and had taken a while to get over that.

"I just thought he might run well at Kempton, finish third or fourth, and then we'd put him away for the summer.

"But he's improved a massive amount from that run. Today he's travelled supremely and jumped. He picked them up the minute he wanted to and he's our little Hurricane Fly."

Henderson finally opened his account for the week in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle when Bobs Worth led home his stablemate Mossley.

Willie Mullins was back in the winner's enclosure when his Final Approach (10-1) got the better of Get Me Out Of Here in the best finish of the week in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle.

Tony McCoy looked to have the race in the bag on last year's totesport Trophy winner but Ruby Walsh's mount, who lodges with McCoy on his frequent visits to England, denied him in the final stride.

Ian Ferguson's Zemsky was a 33-1 winner of the Christie's Foxhunter Chase but his task was made easier when last year's winner Baby Run unseated Willie Twiston-Davies two out.